Clevis



(No Model.) 2l sheets-sheet 1.'

vR.4L.'YBAKLY. GLBVIS.

No. 555,469'. Patented Feb. 25, v1896.

(No ldcdrel.) 2 Sheets-Sheetz.

Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

UNITED STATES ATENT rricn.

' ROBERT L. YEAKEY, OF FORDS FERRY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. I. PIERCE, C. J. PIERCE, AND E. M. MCFEE, OF MARION, KENTUCKY.

CLEVIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Pat'ent No. 555,469, dated February 25, 1896. Application filed December 9, 1895. Serial No. 571,585. (No model.)

To au wiz/0711, t nfl/ay concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. YEAKEY, a citizen of the United States, residing atFords Ferry, inY the county of Crittenden and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Clevis, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in clevises, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and efcient clevis for all kinds of agricultural implements, in which superior and improved means are provided whereby the point of draft may be varied either vertically or laterally, according to the degree of sharpness of the plow-point, shovel, dac., the state of the soil, whether wet or dry, and according to other conditions.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel form of locking-pin for connecting the several parts of the clevis in a manner that will dispense with any additional -means for locking the pin in place, such as a screw or cotter-pin, (be.

To this end the invention consists in a clevis embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings and iinallypointed out in the claim. f

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of an improved clevis constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lock-pin which connects the fixed and pivoted members of the lclevis. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the pin which pivotally connects the twisted link with the horizontal pivoted member of the clevis. Fig. 6 illustrates a simplified form of clevis in perspective. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view showing the manner of detaching the clevis from the tongue of the machine. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the wrench-pin. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the lock-pin which connects the two members of the clevis.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1

designates a pair of stationary twin side plates secured upon opposite sides of the advance end of the beam or tongue 2 of a plow or cultivator, as the case may be. These plates are substantially triangular in their general shape and are secured irmlyin place by means of two or more transverse bolts 3 passing through the same and the beam 2. At their forward or expanded ends the plates l are each provided with a vertical or segmental series of transversely-aligning pinopenings 4 corresponding in size to and adapted to receive a 'transverse lock-pin 5. This lock-pin has at one end an enlargement or' head 6, and at .its opposite end a pair of diametrically-opposite ribs or tongues 7 projecting radially therefrom. .Intermediateits ends and adjacent to each end the lock-pin 5 is provided with diametrically-opposite and radially-disposed ribs or.tongues 8 arranged in longitudinal alignment with the aforesaid ribs or tongues.

Suiiicient space is allowed between the head 6 and the tongues 8, adjacent thereto, and also between the tongues 7 and S at the opposite end of the pin, for the reception of the rearward extensions or arms 9 of a horizon tally-disposed and vertically-swin gin g bar or link 10. The extensions or arms 9 embrace or lie upon the outside of the expanded front ends of the plates l and are perforated to receive the lock-pin 5. Oppositely-disposed grooves l1 are formed as extensions of the perforations in the arms 9, and these grooves are so disposed that when the clevis member l0 is brought to a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the said grooves 11 will be vertically above and beneath the openings in the arms 9. Each of the openings 4 above referred to is also provided with oppositelydisposed grooves or extensions l2, and these grooves have an oblique disposition or extend at an angle of about forty-live degrees. In order to connect the clevis member 10 with the stationary plates l it is necessary to tilt said member l0 upward to an angle ofabout forty-live degrees, as shown at 13 in Fig. 3. In this position the grooves 1l of the member l0 will align with the grooves 12 of the plates l and will allow the lock-pin 5 to be introduced through the openings in the arms 9 IOO and also through the openings 4. Upon the head 6 of the pin coming in contact with the adjacent arm 9 the clevis member 10 will be allowed to swing downward. This will carry the grooves 11 thereof out of alignment with the tongues 7 of the pin, and the latter may not thereafter be withdrawn, except by again raising the member 10.

The vertically-swinging clevis member 10 is provided with a transversely-extending series of pin-openings 14, any one of which may receive a vertical pin 15, passing through a pair of vertically-aligned slots 1G in the rear ends of a twisted link 17, to which the team is hitched. The pin 15 has a head at its upper end forminga shoulder for limiting its downward movement, and is provided, ad jacent to its top and bottom, with oppositelydisposed depressions or Iiattened portions 18, which are adapted to permit the shank of the pin to be received in the reduced rear por tions of the slots 1G, as shown in Fig. 2. The forward portions of the slots 16 are enlarged sufiiciently to be equal to the largest diameter of the pin 15, so that the latter may be introduced through the ends of the twisted link, and the latter be thereafter moved forward to lock the pin in place. It will thus be seen that provision is made either for the vertical or lateral adjustment of the point of draft for adapting the plow or other implement to required conditions.

Fig. G shows the clevis in its simplified form, in which but a single stationary member 1 9 is employed having rearwardlyextendi11g arms 2O arranged above and beneath the beam and tongue 2 and secured intermediately by a pin 2l,and at their rear ends by a wrench-pin 22. This pin 22 has longitudinally-extending tongues 23 and 2l arranged diametrically opposite upon the shank of the pin and i'or the same purpose subserved by the tongues 7 and S of the lock-pin 5, above described. This pin also has a head 25, which is extended to form a wrench 2G for adjusting the various nuts about the implement, thus adding to the utility of the device as a whole. This pin passes through openings in the rear extremities of the arms 20, and also through a vertical opening in the beam or tongue 2, and all of said openings are formed with oppositely-disposed extensions or grooves 27, the grooves of the arms 2O being arranged transversely opposite and the grooves in the beam or tongue 2 being arranged longitudinally opposite. By reason of this particular disposi tion of the grooves it is necessary to vibrate the clevis member 19 into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. S in order to bring the grooves 27 thereof into alignment with the corresponding grooves in the beam or tongue. IVhile in this position the lockpin 22 may be inserted and thereafter the clevis member may be vibrated to its proper position, as shown in Fig. 6, after which it will be impossible to displace the lock-pin 22.

28 designates a vertically-swinging draftlink of substantially U shape and havin gits perforated rear ends mounted upon a hori- Zontal transverse pin 29, which, as shown in Fig. l0, resembles in general construction the lock-pin 5, above described. The perforations of the link 28 and the clevis member 19 are also correspondingly grooved, as indi cated at 30, in a manner similar to the openings in the plates 1, above described, so that it is necessary to elevate the said link to an angle of about forty-five degrees before the lock-pin 29 may be inserted. The general construction and operation is identical with that shown and described in connection with Fig. l.

By means of the construction above de scribed it will be seen that a very simple, inexpensive and eflicient clevis is obtained, in which provision is made for locking the pivotal pins in place without the necessity of extraneous devices in the form of cotter-pin s, &c. It also dispenses with the necessity for screw-threadin g the pin and using a nut thereon which would be liable to rust an d become fast. There is also no possibility of either member of the clevis becoming broken by reason of the lock-pin becoming accidentally withdrawn partially in such manner as to throw the entire strain upon a sin gle point.

The device will be found very reliable in use and convenient in practice and will effect a considerable saving of time heretofore spent in the repairing of broken clevises.

Changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A clevis comprising a fixed and movable member each formed with pin-openin gs provided with oppositely-disposed extensions or grooves, the extensions or grooves of the openings in the fixed member being disposed obliquely to the line of draft, and a lock-pin and pivot common to both members and pro vided with sets of radially-disposed and longitudinally-aligned ribs or tongues spaced apart longitudinally to engage the said members, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my sign aturein the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT L. YEAKEY. Witnesses:

l'I. K. Woons, HARRY CARNAHAN.

IOO

IID 

